Kenyan police deployment to Haiti is close according to US media reports.
The Miami Herald quoting a top official of US President Joe Biden said civilian contractors have started to arrive in Haiti.
The contractors will help prepare for the arrival of Kenyan forces, whose deployment is currently in the works.
Todd D. Robinson, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, confirmed the deployment.
Robinson said the initial deployment of Kenyan police will coincide with the arrival of President William Ruto in Washington.
Biden will host Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, for a state visit on May 23 to mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations.
“The initial deployment will happen sometime around his State visit,” Robinson said.
The Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell confirmed the first Kenyan police officers are expected to arrive in Haiti on May 26, 2024.
In March 2024, Ruto pledged to send 1000 police officers to Haiti to lead the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti meant to stabilise the country.
“From Kenya, we are ready for this deployment, and I request all the other partners across the globe to step up so that we can respond in good time,” said Ruto.
The Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699.
This followed widespread gang violence that rendered much of the country lawless and ungovernable.
In 2021, assassins killed Haiti’s former President Jovenel Moise at his residence in the capital Port-au-Prince, highlighting the level of insecurity in the Caribbean nation.
